Justin Rose's birdie blitz puts him one clear at Farmers Insurance Open

The Englishman was flawless, rolling in ten birdies around the North course to sit on ten under par, one stroke ahead of namesake Justin Lower, who is in solo-second on nine under. Hideki Matsuyama and Max Greyserman are a further shot back after carding 64s.

Rose was sublime on the easier North course as he only found one greenside bunker and was forced to scramble just one other time, on the 14th, as he punished the course.

Up next for the 45-year-old is the more difficult South course that played to an average of 72 on Thursday. It's a struggle. Just ask former US Open Xander Schauffele, who battled to a 73.

"North course clearly is one that you want to try to make the most of and it's great to do that today for sure," said the veteran.

Meanwhile, Lower carded one bogey and an eagle in par five 17th in an adventurous 63, but admittedly, he had other things on his mind.  

"If I'm being really truthful with everyone, my mind's not really here," he revealed.

"My wife is 34 weeks pregnant with twins and I'm just trying to get home on Monday to try to help everything out as much as I can. Luckily, we have family close and everything. Yeah, she's going through it right now. Life's about to get real if it wasn't real already."